Nobles County, Minnesota
Nobles County | |
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UTC−5 (CDT) | |
Congressional district | 1st |
Website | www |
Nobles County is a
History
The first settlement was near Graham Lakes in 1846. Nobles County was established May 23, 1857, and organized October 27, 1870.[3] The county was named for William H. Nobles, a member of the Minnesota territorial legislature in 1854 and 1856. In Autumn 1856 he began the construction of a wagon road for the US government, crossing southwestern Minnesota and Nobles County, to extend from Fort Ridgely to South Pass in the Rocky Mountains. This work was continued in 1857 but was not completed.[4] Nobles County was created by the Minnesota Territory legislature just before the full force of the Panic of 1857 was felt. Settlers were further discouraged from coming by the Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857, where a band of Sioux murdered settlers in Spirit Lake and along the Des Moines River in Jackson and Cottonwood Counties. The few whites in the area were understandably reluctant to stay.
In 1871, a group of men from Toledo, Ohio organized a company to locate a colony of settlers in some western county. After traveling 20,000 miles in the Midwest, they decided on Nobles County and by the spring of 1872, hundreds of people came in and took up land. Worthington was platted in 1871,[5] and became the county seat in 1873. The Worthington & Sioux Falls Railway was established in 1876. This led to rapid settlement in Rushmore, Adrian, and the western portions of the county.
The 1860 census of Nobles County showed 11 families, 35 persons, (3 from Norway, 3 from Bavaria, 1 from Ireland and the rest from the eastern states).[6] In 1880, the population was 4,435. In 1895, the population was 11,905, and in 1970, the population was up to 23,208. In 2000, the population was 20,832, and the 2010 census showed a population of 21,378.[7]
COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
In May 2020, Nobles County had the fourth-highest per capita COVID-19 infection rate of any county in the United States. About one of every 17 residents had tested positive, with 1,319 cases.[8][9]
By June 29, 2022, the county had 7,104 cases and 60 deaths.
Economy
Nobles County's economy is largely driven by agriculture, with corn, soybeans, and hogs as the county's leading agricultural products. Food processing and fabricated metals are important manufacturing sectors, and tourism is a growing industry that benefits from the county's lakes, parks, and historical sites.[10][11]
Geography
Nobles County is on the southern side of Minnesota. Its southern border abuts the northern border of the state of Iowa.[14] The county has a total area of 723 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 715 square miles (1,850 km2) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km2) (1.0%) is water.[15]
Transit
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Murray County - north
- Cottonwood County - northeast
- Jackson County - east
- Osceola County, Iowa - southeast
- Lyon County, Iowa - southwest
- Rock County - west
Lakes[14]
- East Graham Lake
- Fulda First Lake
- Indian Lake
- Iowa Lake (part)
- Jack Lake
- Kinbrae Lake
- Lake Bella
- Lake Ocheda
- Lake Okabena
- West Graham Lake
- Willow Lake (part)
Protected areas[14]
- Adrian Spring County Park
- Aid Pit State Wildlife Management Area
- Bigelow State Wildlife Management Area
- Champepadan State Wildlife Management Area
- Compass Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
- Dewald State Wildlife Management Area
- Eagle Lake State Wildlife Management Area
- Ells Pit State Wildlife Management Area
- Fenmont State Wildlife Management Area
- Fulda State Wildlife Management Area
- Fury State Wildlife Management Area
- Groth State Wildlife Management Area
- Hawkeye County Park
- John Erickson State Wildlife Management Area
- Lake Bella State Wildlife Management Area
- Lake Ocheda Game Refuge
- Lone Tree State Wildlife Management Area
- Maka-Oicu County Park
- Midway County Park
- Peterson State Wildlife Management Area
- Pheasant Run State Wildlife Management Area
- Scheuring State Wildlife Management Area
- Schweigert State Wildlife Management Area
- Sherwood State Wildlife Management Area
- Sportsman County Park
- Swessinger State Wildlife Management Area
- West Graham State Wildlife Management Area
Geology
Buffalo Ridge is part of the inner coteau and is the highest point of the
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 35 | — | |
1870 | 117 | 234.3% | |
1880 | 4,435 | 3,690.6% | |
1890 | 7,958 | 79.4% | |
1900 | 14,932 | 87.6% | |
1910 | 15,210 | 1.9% | |
1920 | 17,917 | 17.8% | |
1930 | 18,618 | 3.9% | |
1940 | 21,215 | 13.9% | |
1950 | 22,435 | 5.8% | |
1960 | 23,365 | 4.1% | |
1970 | 23,208 | −0.7% | |
1980 | 21,840 | −5.9% | |
1990 | 20,098 | −8.0% | |
2000 | 20,832 | 3.7% | |
2010 | 21,378 | 2.6% | |
2020 | 22,290 | 4.3% | |
2023 (est.) | 21,727 | [18] | −2.5% |
US Decennial Census[19] 1790-1960[20] 1900-1990[21] 1990-2000[22] 2010-2020[1] |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[23] | Pop 2020[24] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
14,365 | 12,147 | 67.20% | 54.50% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
727 | 978 | 3.40% | 4.39% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
67 | 66 | 0.31% | 0.30% |
Asian alone (NH) | 1,144 | 1,329 | 5.35% | 5.96% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 7 | 41 | 0.03% | 0.18% |
Other race alone (NH) | 25 | 42 | 0.11% | 0.19% |
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 223 | 416 | 1.04% | 1.87% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,820 | 7,271 | 22.55% | 32.62% |
Total | 21,378 | 22,290 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
2000 census
As of the
There were 7,939 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.
The county population contained with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,684, and the median income for a family was $43,076. Males had a median income of $27,853 versus $20,346 for females. The
Communities
Cities[5]
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities[5]
- Org (named Sioux Falls Junction until 1890)
- Pfingsten
- Ransom
- Reading
- St. Kilian
Townships
- Bigelow Township
- Bloom Township
- Dewald Township
- Elk Township
- Graham Lakes Township
- Grand Prairie Township
- Hersey Township
- Indian Lake Township
- Larkin Township
- Leota Township
- Lismore Township
- Little Rock Township
- Lorain Township
- Olney Township
- Ransom Township
- Seward Township
- Summit Lake Township
- Westside Township
- Wilmont Township
- Worthington Township
Politics
Nobles County voters have tended to vote Republican in the past several decades. In 67% of national elections since 1980, the county has selected the Republican Party candidate (as of 2020).
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 5,600 | 64.26% | 2,933 | 33.65% | 182 | 2.09% |
2016 | 5,299 | 61.39% | 2,733 | 31.66% | 600 | 6.95% |
2012 | 4,581 | 53.77% | 3,793 | 44.52% | 146 | 1.71% |
2008 | 4,368 | 49.56% | 4,244 | 48.16% | 201 | 2.28% |
2004 | 5,159 | 56.05% | 3,898 | 42.35% | 147 | 1.60% |
2000 | 4,766 | 53.72% | 3,760 | 42.38% | 346 | 3.90% |
1996 | 3,769 | 41.60% | 4,106 | 45.32% | 1,186 | 13.09% |
1992 | 3,548 | 35.73% | 3,756 | 37.82% | 2,626 | 26.45% |
1988 | 4,348 | 46.28% | 4,953 | 52.73% | 93 | 0.99% |
1984 | 4,876 | 50.77% | 4,619 | 48.09% | 110 | 1.15% |
1980 | 4,706 | 45.40% | 4,703 | 45.37% | 956 | 9.22% |
1976 | 4,503 | 41.95% | 6,034 | 56.21% | 198 | 1.84% |
1972 | 4,951 | 47.04% | 5,464 | 51.91% | 110 | 1.05% |
1968 | 4,451 | 44.04% | 5,171 | 51.16% | 485 | 4.80% |
1964 | 3,517 | 35.31% | 6,431 | 64.57% | 12 | 0.12% |
1960 | 5,636 | 53.20% | 4,947 | 46.70% | 11 | 0.10% |
1956 | 5,196 | 56.23% | 4,036 | 43.67% | 9 | 0.10% |
1952 | 6,340 | 65.25% | 3,351 | 34.49% | 26 | 0.27% |
1948 | 3,203 | 38.21% | 5,090 | 60.73% | 89 | 1.06% |
1944 | 4,149 | 54.61% | 3,413 | 44.93% | 35 | 0.46% |
1940 | 5,104 | 56.34% | 3,919 | 43.26% | 36 | 0.40% |
1936 | 2,601 | 32.22% | 4,919 | 60.94% | 552 | 6.84% |
1932 | 2,417 | 35.35% | 4,343 | 63.51% | 78 | 1.14% |
1928 | 3,676 | 56.01% | 2,862 | 43.61% | 25 | 0.38% |
1924 | 2,835 | 46.10% | 421 | 6.85% | 2,894 | 47.06% |
1920 | 4,420 | 79.64% | 982 | 17.69% | 148 | 2.67% |
1916 | 1,413 | 50.39% | 1,280 | 45.65% | 111 | 3.96% |
1912 | 605 | 20.78% | 994 | 34.15% | 1,312 | 45.07% |
1908 | 1,432 | 56.78% | 925 | 36.68% | 165 | 6.54% |
1904 | 1,732 | 70.52% | 622 | 25.33% | 102 | 4.15% |
1900 | 1,709 | 57.68% | 1,101 | 37.16% | 153 | 5.16% |
1896 | 1,568 | 54.84% | 1,204 | 42.11% | 87 | 3.04% |
1892 | 894 | 44.24% | 664 | 32.86% | 463 | 22.91% |
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Nobles County, Minnesota
- Nobles County Heritage Center
References
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ^ "Warren Upham's Minnesota Places: A Geographical Encyclopedia". Archived from the original on June 20, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names, pp. 376-79. Accessed March 17, 2019
- ^ United States Census Bureau: 1860 Census (accessed March 17, 2019)
- ^ "Nobles County History - Nobles County, Minnesota". Archived from the original on January 11, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2010. Nobles County Government Website
- ^ See "Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count" The New York Times May 15, 2020.
- ^ See Joe Barrett, "Coronavirus Threatens a Minnesota Farm Town’s Economic Engine: JBS meatpacking plant turned Worthington into a global melting pot; now officials worry as it reopens" Wall Street Journal May 22, 2020
- ^ 2020 Minnesota Agriculture and Forestry Economic Contribution Study - Nobles County (PDF), Urbandale, Iowa: AgriGrowth, 2020
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ FactSheet TOURISM’S ECONOMIC IMPACT ON MINNESOTA COUNTIES (PDF), St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Economic Development, 2019
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
- ^ The Geology of Minnesota Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Nobles County MN Google Maps (accessed March 17, 2019)
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ a b DNR, Minnesota DNR, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecs/251Bc/index.html.
- ^ Anderson RR (1987) Precambrian Sioux Quartzite at Gitchie Manitou State Preserve, Iowa. Centennial Field Guide Vol. 3: North-Central Section of the Geological Society of America: Vol. 3, No. 0 pp. 77–80. [1]
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Nobles County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Nobles County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.